School Board plans special called meeting

FRANK TAYLOR

Managing Editor

Following last week’s sudden resignation of the Lincoln County Schools official in charge of facilities and construction, Darrell Gettys, the Board of Education is set to conduct a special called meeting on Tuesday.

Announced late Friday, the meeting is schedule for 6 p.m. at the schools central office on Generals Boulevard in Lincolnton.

The only item on Tuesday’s agenda is a closed session, which is being justified under the state law allowing the board to meet in closed session to discuss the qualifications of a candidate for office or the merits of a complaint against an employee. The board won’t be able to discuss general personnel policies or take final action on hiring or dismissal during a closed session.

Although there’s no direct indication that this meeting was prompted by the circumstances surrounding Gettys’ resignation, a board member who spoke with the Times-News earlier Friday said he was expecting a meeting to be called on Tuesday for that reason.

Superintendent Sherry Hoyle also responded Friday to a request for additional records surrounding Gettys’ departure. Although she said she could not release any records, she clarified that he was “not terminated or dismissed.”

Gettys has been the subject of accusations of misconduct in office that have appeared in another area publication, which cited a former employee, David Lutz, as the source of the allegations.

Lutz has also accused Gettys’ wife Crystal of threatening him and sworn out a criminal summons against her.

Crystal Gettys issued a statement to the Times-News last week in which she said the accusations against her were false and those that have been printed against her husband were also inaccurate.

In light of the allegations, the Times-News has asked the superintendent to consider opening personnel records that are normally confidential in this situation in order to protect the integrity of the school system, as provided for in state statutes.